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A  SERMON 


DELIVERED  IN  THE 


4fttltou  ^Ireet  preslititeriiin  ^^hurcK, 


JVov ember  27th, 


mmMMmmmnwumm  ipait^ 


By  Rev.  ASAHEL  A.  STEVENS. 


ilastai;  o|]  (P|am  §trcd  Congnjgntional  Churcli, 


PEORIA,  ILL. : 

TRANSCRIPT  COMPANY,  PRINTERS,  COR.  FULTON  &  ADAMS  STS. 

1873. 


-t  An  t 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Peoria,  III.,  November  27^  187S, 

Rev.  a.  a.  Stevens, 

Dear  Sir :  —  The  undersigned,  a  portion  of  the  gratified 
hearers  of  your  appropriate  and  admirable  Thanksgiving  Sermon, 
of  yesterday,  at  the  Fulton  Street  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  city, 
believing  that  much  good  will  result  from  a  wider  dissemination  of 
a  discourse  so  richly  freighte'd  with  practical  home  thoughts  antl 
sentiments,  respectfully  request  of  you  a  copy  of  the  same  for  pub- 
lication. 

Trusting  that  you  will  feel  free  to  comply  with  our  request,  we 
remain,  very  truly,  your  friend  and  fellow-citizens, 

JONATHAN  K.  COOPER, 
LUCIUS  L.  DAY, 
JOHN  D.  VAN  NUYS, 
C.  R.  KUHN, 
N.  K.  BEASLEY. 

^r  

^  REPLY. 

si 

->  Peoria,  III.,  December  1,  1S73. 

"  Mr.  J.  K.  Cooper, 

'  Dear  Sir:  —  The  request  of  yourself  and  others,  for  a 

-V  copy  of  my  late  Thanksgiving  Sermon  for  publication  is  received. 

^  Although  hastily  prepared,  I  deem  the  subject  of  it  worthy  of 

public  consideration,  and  therefore  freely  surrender  it  to  your  wishes. 

y  Very  truly  yours, 

'!  A.  A.  STEVENS. 


<3^ 


SERMON. 


James  1:17. — "Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  from 
above,  and  cometh  down  from  the  Father  of  lights,  with  whom  is 
no  variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning." 

Our  chief  magistrates  of  the  state  and  the  nation,  have 
again  called  us  to  renewed  thanksgiving  and  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  unnumbered  mercies  bestowed  on  us  bv  our 
Heavenly  Father.  It  is  eminently  proper  that  we  should 
do  so ;  and  it  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  that  the  custom  is 
widening  and  extending,  and  promises  to  become  universal 
throughout  the  land.  Our  dependence  upon  the  Almighty 
Ruler  is  real^  and  ought  to  be  felt.  And  if  truly  felt  it 
should  also  be  acknowledged.  And  the  fitting  acknowledg- 
ment is  found  only  in  praise  and  thanksgiving  and  gratitude. 
God's  goodness,  his  great  goodness,  his  unchanging  good- 
ness, call  for  worship  and  praise,  and  the  highest  expressions 
of  regard  that  we  can  possibly  render.  Such  is  our  spiritual 
nature,  that,  if  any  normal  state  of  the  emotions  and  aifec- 
tions  is  maintained  under  this  treatment,  we  must  not  only 
love  the  Good  Being,  whose  excellence  is  without  "  varia- 
bleness or  shadow  of  turning,"  but  we  must  also  find  vent 
for  our  love,  we  must  make  some  demonstration  and  find 
some  proper  exercise  for  the  aflections  stirring  within  us. 
And  this  we  have  reason  for  believing  is  altogether  pleas- 
ing and  acceptable  to  the  Great  Giver  of  all.  "  Whoso 
oftereth  praise  glorifieth  Me,  and  to  him  that  ordereth  his 
conversation  aright  will  I  show  the  salvation  of  God." 

I  do  not  propose  to  dwell  at  this  time  upon  our  ordi- 


(4) 

nary  blessings,  still  they  should  not  be  overlooked,  nor 
underrated.  But  they  are  so  obvious,  and  so  commonly 
enumerated  that,  I  trust  we  shall  not  need  to  have  them 
set  forth  in  lengthy  detail,  in  order  to  feel  how  great  is 
God's  goodness  towards  us  in  these  respects.  Our  harvests, 
our  abundant  rewards  of  industry,  our  general  health,  our 
tranquility  at  home  and  abroad,  our  general  progress  and 
improvement,  and  growth,  as  a  nation,  are  indeed  matters 
for  constant  thankfuhiess.  It  may  be  said  there  are  partial 
failures  in  some  of  the  fruits  and  vegetables.  IN^ot  enough 
to  threaten  at  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  however ;  only 
enough  to  remind  us  of  our  usual  superfluities  and  luxuries, 
which  we  are  very  well  able  to  spare. 

It  may  be  said  that  a  war-cloud  has  arisen  too  on  the 
horizon.  I^ot  so  great  and  so  ominous  but  that  we  may 
still  hope  for  its  removal.  Let  the  calm,  good  sense  of  the 
nation  and  the  world  have  time  to  be  exercised,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  we,  who  have  so  lately  escaped  the  direst  evils 
by  fair  arbitration,  may  find  a  way  of  sustaining  our  honor, 
and  of  securing  a  far  better  atonement  for  the  cruel  and 
cowardly  sacrifice  of  some  few  scores  of  men,  than  the 
costly  sacrifice  of  many  thousands  more  for  every  one  of 
those  so  heartlessly  destroyed.  There  must  be  a  better  way 
of  securing  right  ends,  and  we  must  hope  that  we  can 
find  it. 

It  may  be  said  too,  that  "  hard  times  "  have  befallen  us ; 
that  financial  stringency  is  grinding  us,  and  how  can  we, 
therefore,  be  very  thankful  and  very  joyful.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  this  is  so  much  of  an  afiliction  after  all.  We  crave 
rest,  and  luxury,  and  wealth  easily  obtained,  altogether  too 
much.  If  a  little  reverse  shall  teach  us  all  the  true  and 
needed  lessons  of  economy  and  labor,  the  change  may  have 
the  most  happy  efiects.  Dr.  Holland  makes  one  of  his 
characters  say,  after  having  been  forced  to  learn  the  lesson 
of  work,  "  I  had  never  before  felt  so  happy,  and  I  learned 
then,  what  the  world  is  slow  to  learn,  that  there  can  be  no 
true   happiness  that  is  not  the  result  of  the  action  of  har- 


(5) 

monioiis  powers  steadily  bent  upon  pursuits  that  seek  a 
worthy  end.  Comfort  of  a  certain  sort  there  may  be, 
pleasure  of  a  certain  quality  there  may  be,  in  ease  and  in 
the  irratification  of  that  which  is  sensuous  and  sensual  in 
human  nature,  but  happiness  is  never  a  lazy  man's  dower, 
nor  a  sensualist's  privilege.  That  is  reserved  for  the  worker, 
and  can  never  be  grasped  and  held  save  by  true  manhood 
and  womanhood."  God  ma}^  be  leading  us  then  right  along 
in  the  true  path  of  higher  joy,  and  seeking  to  develop  our 
higher  nature.  Let  us  not  forget  the  blessedness  of  work; 
nor  even  of  any  lowly  work,  if  it  be  honest  and  needful. 
There  is  no  occasion  to  be  ashamed  of  it.  Our  work  is 
our  vacation.  One  has  made  the  supposition  of  an  angel 
beino-  called  to  it : 

LOWLY  SERVICE. 

If  the  dear  Lord  should  send  au  angel  down, — 

A  seraph  radiant  in  robes  of  light, 
To  do  some  menial  service  in  our  streets — 

As  braying  stone,  we  '11  say,  from  morn  till  night — 
Think  you  the  faintest  blush  of  shame  would  rise 

To  mar  the  whiteness  of  his  holy  face? 
Think  you  a  thought  of  discontent  would  find 

Within  his  perfect  heart  abiding-place  ? 

I  love  to  think  the  sweet  will  of  his  God 

Would  seem  as  gracious  in  that  seraph's  eyes 
In  the  dark,  miry,  crowded  lanes  of  earth, 

As  in  the  ambrosial  bowers  of  paradise  ; 
That  those  fair  hands  that  lately  swept  the  lyre 

Would  not  against  their  lowly  work  rebel, 
But,  as  they  ever  wrought  His  will  in  heaven. 

Would  work  it  here  as  faithfully  and  well. 

M.  E.  M. 

Thus  let  us  regard  our  proper  work,  and  the  hard  times 
will  not  hurt  many  of  us.  And  let  us  be  happy  too.  A 
very  common  fault  of  looking  on  the  dark  side  of  every- 
thing, fearing  evil,  never  allowing  the  good  that  is  present 
and  in  prospect  to  be  half  enjoyed  on  this  account,  is  well 
drawn  out  in  the  history  of  Arthur  Bonnicastle's  mother. 
"  Poor,  dear  mother  ! "  (he  says  after  she  is  gone),  "  Most 


(6) 

feart'nl  and  unhiippy  while  liviiiii;,  luid  most  tenderly 
mourned  and  revered  in  memory !  Why  did  yon  persist  in 
seeing  darkness  where  others  saw  light,  and  in  making 
every  cup  bitter  with  the  apprehension  of  evil  ?  Why  were 
you  forever  on  the  watch  that  no  freak  of  untoward  fortune 
should  catch  j'ou  nnaware  ?  Why  did  you  treat  the  Provi- 
dence you  devoutly  tried  to  trust,  as  if  you  supposed  he 
meant  to  trick  you  if  he  found  you  for  a  moment  off  your 
guard  ?  0,  tlie  twin  charms  of  hopefuhiess  and  trustful- 
ness !  What  power  have  they  to  strengthen  weary  feet,  to 
sweeten  sleep,  to  make  the  earth  green,  the  heavens  blue  ; 
to  cheat  misfortune  of  its  bitterness,  and  to  quench  even 
the  poison  of  death  itself!  " 

There  will  indeed  be  some  cases  of  real  hardship.  But 
if  this  stringency  shall  serve  to  dispel  our  illusions,  correct 
our  too  luxurious  habits,  soften  our  hearts  towards  the 
more  needy  around  us,  and  work  in  the  way  of  depletion 
on  our  too  plethoric  souls,  it  will  be  for  our  salvation  and 
not  our  destruction. 

Thank  God  for  all  the  good  we  still  have.  It  is  so  great, 
•and  so  constant,  and  so  super ahoiindbui  to  most  of  us,  that 
we  have  no  occasion  to  think  on  the  evil.  Our  hearts  should 
be  joyful  and  thankful,  and  our  mouths  filled  with  thanks- 
giving and  praise. 

But  if  you  will  now  allow  me,  I  will  quote  another  text, 
and  turn  your  attention  to  another,  a  specific  good,  as  I 
deem  it,  and  one  that  is  less  often  dwelt  upon.  I  do  it 
partly  to  awaken  your  thankfulness  in  this  direction,  and 
partly  for  the  sake  of  prompting  that  improvement  of  the 
good  in  question  which  shall  make  it  a  still  greater  bless- 
ing and  good. 

In  the  48th  psalm  and  2d  verse,  we  read,  "  Beautiful  for 
situation,  (or  elevation)  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is  Mount 
Zion,  the  sides  of  the  north,  the  city  of  the  great  King." 
In  the  previous  verse  it  is  said,  "  Great  is  the  Lord,  and 
greatly  to  be  praised  m  the  city  of  our  God,  in  the  mountain 
of    his    holiness."     And  speaking   of  the  same   hallowed 


(7) 

locality,  we  iire  elsewhere  told,  "  The  Lord  loveth  the  gates 
of  Zion  more  than  all  the  dwellings  of  Jacob."  And  the 
disciples  of  our  Lord,  you  remember,  with  wondering  gaze 
beheld,  and  showed  to  their  Master  the  great  stones,  and 
the  splendid  buildings  of  the  temple.  And  since  the 
destruction,  foretold,  and  so  terribly  accomplished,  the  Jews 
still  cherish  the  remembrance  of  the  past,  and  mourn  over 
the  departed  glories  of  their  loved  metropolis.  I  refer  to 
these  things  simply  to  show  you  in  what  estimate  their 
beloved  Jerusalem  was  held.  "  Beautiful  for  elevation,"  it 
was  to  them  "the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,"  this  city  of  the 
great  King. 

But  how  am  I  to  e'et  all  this  into  our  modern  Thanks- 
giving,  or  our  Thanksgiving  into  it  ?  I  will  tell  you.  The 
grand,  leading  feature  of  this  festival,  for  a  long  time,  has 
been  its  domestic,  social  character.  It  was  the  glad  gather- 
ing of  parents  and  children,  of  brothers  and  sisters,  of 
uncles  and  aunts,  of  cousins  and  nephews,  and  nieces,  that 
gave  it  its  charm.  It  was  the  reunion  in  the  old  loved  home, 
that  made  it  the  blessed  festival  it  was.  It  was  around  the 
family  hearth,  the  blazing  fire  of  childhood's  memories, 
that  the  hallowed  associations  all  clustered.  And  that  must 
be  its  character  still,  or  half  its  meaning  and  its  pleasures, 
and  its  profit,  will  be  lost. 

I  am  anxious,  therefore,  to  identify  it  with  your  homes ; 
and  in  order  to  do  this,  homes  must  be  had,  and  must  be 
lived  in  long  enough  to  become  such.  And  these  homes 
must  be  located  somewhere,  and  they  must  have  their  local 
associations  and  remembrances.  And  thus  we  come  to  the 
idea  of  our  dwelling  place,  the  town  or  citi/  of  our  residence. 
And  as  we  cannot  have  a  single  city,  "  beautiful  for  eleva- 
tion," "and  the  joy  of  the  whole  nation,"  as  Israel  did, we 
must  have  our  more  local  metropolis,  the  place  with  which 
we  are  more  immediately  identified,  and  that  must,  in  a 
measure,  l)e  to  u^  wliat  Jerusalem  was  to  God's  ancient 
people. 

Thus,  by  a  very  direct  path,  we  come  to  the  very  place 


(8) 

where  we  now  are,  to  the  city  of  Peoria,  to  tlie  place  wliere 
we  reside,  wliere  our  homes  are,  where  our  children  are 
born  and  grow  up,  and  where  our  Thanksgivings  are  long 
to  be  celebrated,  I  trust,  by  us  and  them,  even  to  the  latest 
generations. 

And  now,  having  legitimately  arrived  here,  let  us  stop 
a  little  and  survey  our  surroundings,  and  consider  whether 
we  have  any  reason  to  abide  and  to  congratulate  ourselves 
on  the  merits  of  our  dwelling-place.  If  I  mistake  not,  after 
a  becoming  survey,  the  old  exclamation  will  rise  to  our  lips, 
"Surely  the  lines  have  fallen  to  me  in  pleasant  places,  yea, 
I  have  a  sroodlv  heritao^e." 

I^oticing  briefly,  then,  some  of  the  characteristic  advan- 
tages of  this  Central  City,  the  language  of  this  text  quoted  : 
First  rises  for  utterance,  "  Beautiful  for  situation  "  is  the 
city  of  our  residence.  Is  it  disputed  ?  Xeed  it  be  argued  ? 
Must  I  take  any  of  you  who  have  long  dwelt  here,  from 
side  to  side,  from  river  to  bluff,  from  north  to  south,  and 
east  to  west,  and  point  out  all  these  views,  these  grand 
sweeps  of  forest  and  lake,  plains  and  highlands,  trading 
marts  and  rural  residences,  to  convince  vou  of  the  rare 
combinations  for  pleasing  every  taste,  for  diverting  all 
lovers  of  the  beautiful,  and  for  furnishing  localities  for 
homes  to  meet  every  emergency.  For  smooth,  and  ample, 
and  well-drained  plateaus;  for  symmetrical,  continuous,  and 
beautifully  rounded  highlands,  within  eas}^  reach ;  for  wide 
prospects  and  beautiful  elevations,  overlooking  city  and 
river,  and  lake  and  forest  growth,  and  cultivated  fields, 
there  is  nothing  like  it  to  be  found  in  our  whole  interior. 
In  some  cases,  as  in  Cincinnati  and  Burlington,  there  may 
be  higher  bluffs,  but  for  that  very  reason  are  far  more  inac- 
cessible, and  withal  are  so  broken,  disrupted  and  torn,  as 
to  be  very  unsightly,  and  prevent  free  communication  from 
height  to  height.  Similar  remarks  may  be  made  of  Keokuk, 
Davenport,  and  other  localities.  There  is  but  one  Peoria. 
But  the  testimony  is  so  spontaneous  and  uniform  on  this 
point  that  I  need  not  dwell.     I  only  ask  yon  to  look,  and 


(9) 

ponder,  itnd  a})precicite,  and  come  rightly  to  value  the 
{esthetic  conditions  and  superiority  of  the  phice  in  which 
you  live. 

I^or  need  I  dwell  at  leiiictli  on  its  resources.  The 
yearly  trouble  and  embarrassment  experienced  by  our 
interior  cities,  their  exposure,  their  losses,  their  hardships 
for  lack  of  water,  cause  us  to  turn  our  eyes  gratefully  upon 
the  ample  stream  that  passes  our  door,  and  the  cool  and 
deeper  fountains  that  broaden  out  before  and  for  miles 
above  the  city.  Tlie  calm  and  quiet  Illinois  is  too  little 
valued  by  many.  But  it  shall  yet  be  pronounced  with  a 
growing  pride  by  the  whole  state  that  bears  its  name.  It 
stands  in  the  verv  ran  of  all  the  bulwarks  which  nature  has 
provided  against  the  grasping  monopolies  of  our  region  of 
countrv.  It  is  our  safesruard.  It  is  a  standins:  menace  to 
the  selfish  and  ambitious.  It  is  a  potent  demonstration 
before  our  eyes  the  whole  summer  long,  of  the  right  solu- 
tion of  this  great  question  of  railroad  monopoly,  and 
cheaper  transportation.  How  is  it  with  freights  as  soon  as 
navigation  closes  ?  How  is  it  always  some  miles  back  from 
the  river  ?  And  yet  the  farmers  themselves  throughout  this 
great  state,  are  too  blind  to  see,  too  selfish  to  admit  the  value 
of  this  great  thoroughfare,  because  they  do  not  all  live  upon 
its  borders.  They  forget  that  what  benefits  in  this  way  a 
part,  will  more  or  less  benefit  the  whole ;  and  that  we 
should  promptly  avail  ourselves  of  whatever  restraints  of 
these  great  monopolists  we  possess,  knowing  that  it  will  be 
the  only  certain  way  of  obtaining  more,  ^ever  let  those 
who  dwell  upon  its  banks  underrate  the  slow  moving  Illi- 
nois. When  it  shall  have  become  the  great  highway  of 
grain-ships,  and  war-ships,  and  all  heavy  transportation  that 
it  is  destined  to  be,  that  grand  inter-state  pathway  to 
which  it  belongs,  will  be  thought  a  great  deal  more  of 
than  now. 

And  here  let  me  drop  a  word  for  the  lake.  It  is  not 
river  alone  that  Ave  have  reason  to  be  grateful  for.  And 
this  enlargement  is  not  a  mere  :<ltoal.     It  is  of  the  nature 


(10) 

of  ii  lake.  It  is  fed  bv  vast  and  Inexhaastihlc  sprlujis.  It 
would  reniaiu  in  tliis  basin  if  there  were  no  river  here. 
And  this  extent  of  waters  for  some  twenty  miles,  and  of 
such  a  cliaracter  too,  makes  a  very  different  thing  of  our 
supply,  so  far  as  purity  and  healthfulness  are  concerned. 
Let  the  fate  of  the  Illinois  river  be  what  it  may,  our  water 
supply  remains  good  and  ample.  It  comes  to  us  pure  and 
abundant  from  the  unfailing  filtered  fountains  below.  From 
this  we  naturally  turn  to  fuel.  And  the  surrounding 
heio-hts,  and  the  vast  rano^es  of  the  river-banks  and  broken 
ranges  adjacent  to  them,  speak  for  themselves  as  to  ade- 
quate wood  and  timber.  There  is  far  more  we  are  assured, 
than  when  the  country  was  first  settled.  Aiid  many  acres 
are  now  cleared  annually  for  wood,  whose  young  growth 
has  appeared  since  the  white  men  came  here. 

And  then  as  to  the  supplies  of  coal,  can  the  like  any- 
where be  found?  Think  of  procuring  this  convenient  fuel, 
with  no  cost  of  cutting  and  preparation,  for  less  than  |2 
per  ton.  And  this  any  one  may  do  every  year,  by  taking 
advantage  of  the  proper  times  and  seasons.  Think  of  the 
hundred  valleys  and  mines  on  every  side,  about  this  city,  where 
no  perpendicular  shaft  is  required,  no  complicated  and 
expensive  power  to  bring  it  to  the  surface,  where  no  trouble 
on  account  of  drainage  is  experienced,  and  nothbuj  to  do  but 
move  in  horizontally,  and  roll  out  the  "  black  diamonds  " 
in  a  perpetual  train.  These  ravines  all  opening  their  mouths 
towards  us,  point  as  plainly  as  figures  on  the  guide-board 
to  our  beautiful  situation,  sa^Hng,  "there's  the  city,  the 
place  for  your  homes,  and  we,  and  our  resources,  are  at 
vour  service." 

ft/ 

Let  me  barely  mention  in  passing  our  numerous  and 
rapidly  increasing  facilities  of  communication.  Twenty 
years  ago,  on  visiting  this  place,  there  was  no  egress  from 
the  city  in  a  public  conveyance,  except  by  a  steamboat  or 
sta2:e.  In  a  year  or  so  one  branch  line  was  opened  up  toward 
Chicago.  Seventeen  years  ago  next  spring,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  reach  Galesburg  by  cars,  to  attend  an  ecclesiastical 


(11) 

meeting,  tliat  came  near  losing  tlie  meeting.  But  tlie  jour- 
ney was  made,  witli  long  delays.  This  was  the  second  out- 
let. And  now  think  of  our  numher  of  communications  in 
every  direction,  and  the  speed  with  wdiich  we  reach  all 
points  around  us.  The  commercial  advantages  and  increased 
business  resulting  from  these  improvements  you  can  better 
understand  and  appreciate  than  your  speaker. 

But  another  point  to  be  most  highly  prized  by  us  all, 
you  may  not  have  thought  so  much  of,  or  been  so  fully  con- 
vinced of;  I  refer  to  the  healthfulness  of  the  place.  A  min- 
ister, by  reason  of  his  professional  duties,  is  only  second  to 
the  physician,  in  his  opportunities  for  judging  correctly  of 
the  healthfulness  of  his  place  of  abode.  And  such  has  been 
my  own  experience  and  observation,  that  I  am  constrained 
to  bear  the  most  emphatic  testimony  on  this  point.  Indeed, 
it  has  often,  and  long  been  a  matter  of  the  greatest  sur- 
prise to  me,  that  so  few  deaths  occur  in  the  society  to  Avhich 
T  have  ministered.  Knowing  the  ages,  and  condition,  and 
apparent  prospects  of  so  many  when  I  came  here,  and  com- 
paring them  with  others,  where  my  public  life  has  called 
me,  the  average  length  of  life  under  given  circumstances 
has  been  so  much  ui  favor  of  the  people  here,  that  I  have 
called  attention  to  it  again  and  again.  Leave  out  the  loss  of 
little  children,  during  the  first  two  years  of  life,  and  I  have 
never  known  any  place  or  parish,  with  which  I  have  been 
well  acquainted,  bear  any  c-om/)a?7.s'0?nvith  this  in  its  freedom 
from  sickness  and  mortality.  These  loose  soils,  and  undulat- 
ing slopes  do  not  admit  of  the  hurtful  stagnations  that  breed 
miasma.  And  tliese  free  and  driving,  breezes  bear  healinir 
in  their  wings.  There  is,  withal,  a  mildness  in  the  atmos- 
phere, that  Avhen  compared  with  the  Eastern  States,  or  those 
bordering  on  large  bodies  of  water,  is  very  helpful  to  those 
predisposed  to  pulmonary  and  bronchial  difficulties;  and 
persons  coming  here  from  those  regions  have  found  great 
benefit.  In  case  such  tendencies  are  developed  here,  then 
a  still  more  western  clime  may  be  better  for  them.  But 
our  average  of  lieallh  we  nuiy  well  glory  in.     Fndeed,  T  am 


(12) 

afraid  our  good  friend,  Mr.  Hall,  who  has  done  so  much  for 
the  beautiful  resting  phice  of  our  departed  ones,  has  become 
quite  discouraged,  for  I  liear  lie  has  committed  his  charge  to 
other  hands.  But  we  shall  all  need  it  sometime,  and  I 
hope  our  hallowed  grounds  will  never  suffer  from  neglect. 
It  is  one  of  the  spots  to  be  pointed  out  with  very  reverential 
and  tender  feeling,  as  a  cherished  jpecidiarity  of  the  cit}' 
which  is  our  home. 

But  I  must  not  dwell   too  long  on  these  merits  and 
advantasres.     If  vou  would  not  think  me  extrava2:ant  and 
romantic,  and  too  much  given  to  Hctitious  conceptions,  I 
should  delight  to  anticipate  the  future  somewhat,  and  show 
you  what  could  be  done  here.     I  should  like  to  look  for- 
ward to  a  population  of  iifty  thousand,  or  even  a  hundred 
thousand,  as  I  think  could   be  justly  done,  and  show  you 
what  might  appear  here  when  that  number  should  dwell  on 
these  plains  and  these   heights,  with    their   corresponding 
wealth  and  culture.     I  should  like  to  picture  jto  you  the 
tine    undulating   park   that   could    be    laid   out   on   those 
tallest    heights   and    beyond,    on    the    north-east   of    our 
"city,  and  then  bring  you  around  this  a  boulevard  skirting 
above  Dry  Run,  and  the  valley  of  the  Kickapoo,  and  Horse- 
shoe bottom,  winding  in  and  out  of  another  fine  level  park, 
somewhere  on  the  broad  plateau  on  our  north-west,  all  a 
beautiful  level  drive,  and  away  from  all  the  dusty  thorough- 
fares, and  then  emers-ino^  on  Seventh  avenue  at  the  lower 
extremity  of  the  city,  show  you  the  whole  beautiful  expanse 
of  the  lower  city  all  at  once.     Could  Ttake  you  over  that 
even  and  shady  drive,  regale  your  vision  on  those  charming 
valleys  of  woodland,  pasturage,  and  cultivated  fields ;  then 
from  such  rural  sights,  burst  all  at  once  upon  the  open  city 
and  show  j^ou  from  a  single  point  all  its  great  elevators, 
warehouses,  marts  of  trade,  temples  of  worship,  and  pala- 
tial residences,  you  would  doubtless  exclaim,  can  this  be 
Peoria  ?     This  the  city  where  I  dwelt,  and  reared  my  humble 
cottage  fifty  years  ago  ?   But  I  must  not  indulge  ;  I  am  sure 
however  that  I  do  not  overrate  our  possibiJities,  and  I  think 


(13) 

not  our  real  prospects.  The  place  is  "  bcaufiftd  for  situation" 
and  men  are  finding  it  out.  And  such  variety,  such  diver- 
sity, with  such  sweet  symmetry,  and  heauty,  and  fine 
facilities  for  enlargement  and  perfection,  I  do  think,  arc 
no  where  else  to  be  found.  And  T  hope  the  people  who 
dwell  here  will  yet  become  worthy  of  their  place  and  sur- 
roundings, so  as  to  make  them  more  nearly  what  they 
should  be. 

At  this  point  then,  we  are  naturally  led  to  consider  our 
duties  and  obligations  growing  out  of  these  facts  we  have 
been  looking  at. 

First,  then,  we  should  come  to  the  feeling  of  ow^nership, 
oneness,  identity  with  the  place  where  we  dwell.  We  should 
appropriate  it  in  some  proper  sense,  as  our  chosen  homo, 
and  feel  that  it  i;nd  its  belono^ino-s  are  our  own.  It  is  too 
much  the  fault  with  manv  that  thev  do  not  conclude  to  stay 
permanently,  they  hold  themselves  aloof,  they  continue  their 
home  attachments  elsewhere,  rather  anticipate  a  dissolution 
of  these  ties,  and  account  this  a  mere  place  of  temporary 
sojourn.  Thus  they  fail  to  thoroughly  identity  themselves 
and  appreciate  and  get  the  good  of  their  adopted  place  of 
residence.  They  may  still  remain  all  their  lives,  but  they 
stop  only  as  pilgrims  on  the  journey,  and  never  in  reality 
are  at  home  here.  Thev  are  thus  too  critical,  alwavs  find- 
ing  fault,  magnitying  the  merits  of  some  other  locality,  and 
never  discovering  those  of  the  place  where  they  now  are. 
Let  such  only  once  fully  make  up  their  minds  to  remain,  to 
be  at  home,  to  become  thoroughly  identified,  and  they  will 
soon  discover  reasons  enough  for  feeling  that  no  place  can 
be  better  for  them. 

Thus  having  concluded  to  abide  here,  the  next  obliga- 
tion naturally  developed  will  be  to  seek  the  benefit  of  the 
place  of  one's  residence,  in  every  proper  way.  Having 
some  common  feeling  with  the  people,  becoming  really 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  city,  one  will  feel 
prompted  to  seek  its  good  in  every  sense.  Its  good  name, 
and   [>rosperity  and   real    welfare,  will   be  in   a   sense  one's 


(14) 

own.  Something*  of  public  .spirit  will  iuF^pire  every  man  of 
miy  true  nobility  of  nature.  Public  t<[)irit  is  nearh'  allied 
to  true  benevolence.  And  if  one  lias  any  goodness  in  him, 
he  will  desire  the  prosperity  of  the  city  in  which  he  dwells. 

But  to  be  more  specific.  One  whose  feelings  are  right 
in  this  matter,  will  reallv  desire  and  seek  the  material  welfare 
of  the  city  he  resides  in.  He  will  not  merely  desire  to 
enrich  himself,  caring  nothing  for  the  rest.  He  will  not 
make  the  city  and  all  its  interests  subservient  to  his  own 
emolument,  caring  nothing  for  Its  future  history  and  pros- 
pects. He  will  feel  that  the  city  is  more  than  himself,  its 
life  and  history  and  welfare  ftir  greater  than  his  own ;  and 
if  he  judges  wisely,  he  will  also  conclude  that  its  pros- 
perity is  identified  with  his  own,  nor  ever  wish  to  prosper 
at  its  expense.  It  is  not  becoming  at  all  to  use  the  advan- 
tages of  a  given  place  to  enrich  one's  self,  and  then  turn  fi'om 
it,  and  rail  at  it  with  supercilious  contempt.  N^or  is  it  fair 
to  thus  l)enefit  and  enrich  one's  self  by  means  of  its  advan- 
tages, and  then  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  strip  it,  and 
despoil  it,  and  transfer  to  other  regions  the  resources  and 
power  acquired,  to  build  up  and  benefit  elsewhere.  Tliere 
is  such  a  thing  as  ingratitude  to  our  former  home  and  sphere 
of  action.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  foolish  pride  and  con- 
ceit, in  professedly  outgrowing  the  humble  sphere  of  one's 
r;i[)id  prosperity.  And  it  is  a  pride  that  is  rerg  apt  to  have 
a  tall.  There  have  been  men  that  lived  and  prospered  here, 
and  then  removed,  that  have  had  occasion  to  say  sadly,  a 
thousand  times,  "Oh,  that  I  had  stood  by  the  Central  City." 
Had  they  been  just  to  Peoria  it  would  have  been  generous 
to  them. 

It  is  our  duty  also  to  seek  the  imj)rovement  of  our  city 
in  its  general  appearance.  We  should  aim  to  nuike  it 
aesthetically  what  nature  designed  it  to  be,  "beautiful  for 
situation,  the  joy  of  this  whole  region."  God  does  not  give 
such  beautiful  sites  that  we  may  deform  them.  He  has 
never  rounded  these  heights,  spread  out  these  smooth 
surfaces,  swept  around  us  these  enclosing  blufts  in  such 


( 15  ) 

graceful  curves,  that  we  may  cut  them  all  in  pieces,  lilock 
them  off  in  crooked,  notched,  unsightly  irregularities;  or 
allow  them  to  he  washed  and  torn,  and  spoiled  by  the  floods 
and  storms.  IIow  carefully  he  clothed  all  with  verdure  for 
thousands  of  years,  and  kept  them  shapely  and  beautiful  till 
civilized  man  took  possession ;  and  now  shall  everything 
i)icturesque  be  destroyed  ?  We  should  study  the  pattern 
and  improve  on  its  details  and  finish.  And  every  one  that 
does  make  improvement  should  have  credit  for  doing  so. 
When  anv  wealthv  citizen,  like  our  friend,  Mr.  Pulsifer, 
devotes  years  of  work,  and  large  sums  of  money  to  public 
improvement,  let  us  not  hesitate  to  express  our  gratification 
and  irratitude.  When  anv  citizen  who  can  afford  it  builds 
him  a  familv  mansion  that  is  an  ornament  to  the  citv  and  a 
i)leasure  to  every  eve  that  beholds  it,  let  us  show  that  we  are 
pleased,  and  that  we  can  appreciate.  And  so  of  all  the 
improvements  in  business  houses  and  manufactories,  and  all 
the  architectural  creations.  It  is  a  real  help  and  a  real  good 
to  us.  How  much  better  for  us  every  way,  that  such 
improvements  should  be  made  by  those  who  are  able  to  do 
it,  than  that  they  should  hoard  their  resources,  and  keep 
their  funds  stored  away  in  useless  inaction.  It  i>;ives 
employment  to  the  laborer,  it  makes  business  for  the  trader, 
and  it  cultivates  the  taste,  and  lifts  up  the  people,  and  gives 
healthful  pleasure  to  all.  It  adds  to  the  beauty,  worth  and 
desirableness  of  the  city  as  a  home  for  us  all.  [N'ot  a 
thousand  dollars  is  spent  thus  by  any  one  that  we  do  not  ail 
receive  some  benefit  from. 

But  while  saying  this,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  how 
desirable  it  is  that  all  should  have  homes  who  can,  however 
small  and  humble  they  may  be.  This  should  alwavs  be 
encouraged.  The  ]iO)nc  identifies  the  people  with  the  place, 
and  their  interests  with  the  (jeneral  interests  of  the  city.  Let 
the  little  homes,  then,  be  multiplied;  the  more  the  better  for 
us  all.  Let  the  Savins:  Banks  be  encouraged.  Let  the 
Building  Association  be  cherished.  Let  the  lots  be  cheap- 
ened as  much  as  may  be,  and  the   lines  of  horse   railroad 


(16) 

extend  and  aeconiniodnte  and  distribute  the  pec)}>le.  It  will 
1)0  for  greater  health  and  enlargement,  and  real  prusperit3\ 
Give  a  glad  welcome  everywhere  to  any  real  home  and 
dwelling  place  for  a  live  human  family.  For  there  is  the 
nucleus,  the  real  and  permanent  center  for  another  series 
of  real  and  heartfelt  thankso^ivinics.  We  alwavs  w^ant  homes 
for  the  celebration  of  this  anniyersarv.  It  is  the  home-feast 
above  every  other. 

Again,  we  should  seek  to  promote  the  intellectual 
advancement  of  the  people  with  whom  we  dwell ;  our  own 
and  their's  together.  This  is  an  object  worthy  of  sacrifice, 
worthy  of  large  expenditure,  worthy  of  our  painstaking 
and  earnest  etlbrt.  Our  public  schools  already  do  us  credit. 
All  honor  to  the  men  who  have  given  them  so  much  care, 
and  time,  and  labor.  Large  outlays  must  still  be  made  in 
this  line  to  meet  their  coaistantly  growing  wants,  and  to 
keep  up  with  the  general  progress  of  taste  and  culture,  and 
wealth  in  this  growing  city.  Let  these  outlays  never  be 
be4j:rud2:ed. 

A  beo^innins:  has  been  made  in  the  matter  of  a  librarv, 
and  of  furnishino^  facilities  for  readintr  the  best  literarv 
productions  of  every  kind;  but  it  is  only  a  beginning.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  a  vast  enlargement  in  this  direction  will 
l)e  made;  that  the  interest  in  this  matter  will  become  more 
general,  and  that  something  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the 
whole  city  will  be  provided. 

There  is  need  also  of  an  increased  interest  in  and  taste 
for  literarv  and  scientific  lectures,  and  all  other  means  of 
ditfusing  useful  intelligence,  of  cultivating  and  developing 
the  spiritual  nature,  and  lifting  us  above  the  debasing 
pleasures  that  are  so  common,  and  the  degrading  appetites 
that  now  enslave  so  many.  Everything  that  lifts  us  up, 
purifies  and  refines  us,  is  to  be  encouraged.  Everything 
that  helps  the  people  on  to  a  higher  and  better  and  happier 
life  is  to  be  soui^-ht  after  eai>:erlv.  Let  social  wants  be  met 
as  much  as  mav  be,  in  eircunistances  where  ij^roveling  vices 
will  not  be  attendant  on  them,  nor  any  temptations  to  such 


(17) 

vices.  Let  innocent  enjoyments  and  proper  intercourse 
among  young  people  be  encouraged  by  good  people,  and 
in  the  company  of  good  people ;  and  do  not  seek  to  banish 
such  thino's  from  our  homes  and  churches,  and  drive 
these  youth  upon  dangerous  and  forbidden  ground,  where 
their  enjoyments  will  invariably  involve  them  in  evil  courses. 
God  has  provided  for  our  enjoyment,  our  social  good,  our 
acquaintance,  and  our  free  play  of  social  feeling,  and  social 
intercourse,  from  beginning  to  end  of  life.  And  as  sure  as 
we  make  society  artificial,  impose  needless  restraints,  shut 
out  innocent  enjoyment,  drive  the  lively  and  the  young  all 
away  from  us,  we  shall  do  them  harm,  and  harm  our  city, 
and  make  it  more  criminal  and  vicious  than  ever.  The  cross, 
crusty,  crabbed  piety  that  would  proscribe  a  genial  and 
cheerful  tea-social  in  connection  with  one  of  our  church 
organizations,  I  do  think  is  no  Christ-like  piety  at  all. 
It  is  a  kind  of  religion  that  I  fear  will  have  much  evil  to 
atone  for  in  this  world.  The  spirit  of  our  Lord  at  the  mar- 
riage feast  in  Cana  of  Galilee,  at  the  Pharisee's  house,  in 
the  house  of  Zaccheus  the  Publican,  and  of  Simon  the  leper, 
and  I  know  not  how  many  other  places  seems  to  me 
altogether  difterent  from  this.  It  is  the  spirit  of  a  cheerful 
and  gladsome  social  Thanksgiving  occasion.  I  hope  we  shall 
all  cherish  it  to-day.  And  I  hope  we  shall  better  learn  how 
to  embody  these  divine  attractions  in  ourselves,  so  as  to 
draw  towards  us  and  towards* virtue's  lovely  path,  the  wan- 
dering and  sinful  and  fallen,  as  our  Savior  did. 

But  I  must  not  close  without  noticing  our  duty  to  do 
all  we  can  to  advance  the  people  morally  and  religiously  in 
the  city  of  our  residence.  This  indeed  is  the  foremost  thing 
that  we  should  seek  for  them.  This  is  the  very  climax  of 
all  real  good.  The  moral  character  of  our  city  should  be,  of 
all  things,  dear  to  us.  For  all  other  good  depends  on  this, 
more  than  all  things  else.  Its  temperance,  its  charity,  its 
probity,  honor  and  uprightness,  we  should  care  for  deeply. 
We  should  be  very  sensitive  as  to  its  reputation  and  char- 
acter on  these  points.     Every  thing  that  damages  us  in  these 


(18) 

respects  should  hurt  us  individually.  "This  is  my  home, 
and  these  my  fellow  citizens,"  our  thoughts  should  be.  This 
sUir  upon  Peoria,  this  occurrence  that  disgraces  our  city,  is 
a  burden  and  a  sorrow  upon  every  good  citizen  that  dwells 
here.  Thus  should  our  feeling,  and  our  practice,  and  our 
intiuence  be  a  safeguard,  a  constant  sentinel  on  the  watch, 
a  ready  police-force  to  restrain  the  wrong,  rebuke  the 
oftender,  and  turn  away  the  evil  that  is  a  damage  to  us  all. 

Just  suppose  for  a  moment,  that  we  coukl  make  this 
city  pre-eminent  for  its  morality,  its  uprightness,  its  real 
prolnty  and  sterling  integrity  in  every  respect,  what  a  revo- 
lution could  be  wrought  by  it!  Such  an  impulse  would  be 
given  to  us  as  never  before.  Such  thrift,  wealth,  strength, 
vigor  and  progress  would  be  given  us  that  we  would  hardly 
know  ourselves.  The  dream  of  progress  and  prosperity  and 
beauty  I  have  given  you  could  be  quickly  fulfilled  and  more 
than  fulfilled.  In  half  the  time  I  have  suggested  we  could 
have  the  splendid  parks,  and  the  beautiful  drives,  and  teams 
and  turn-outs  to  drive  on  them  also.  It  is  no  question  of 
money  and  means  at  all,  but  simply  how  the  money  shall  be 
used.  Enough  is  consumed  on  liquors  and  tobacco  alone  in 
this  place  to  soon  fill  out  the  picture  I  have  given  you,  beau- 
tifying all  our  surroundings,  nmltiplying  our  homes,  and 
causing  our  public  improvements  to  transform  the  present 
aspect  of  things. 

We  should  strive  for  it  then.  We  may  not  accomplish 
it  all  in  our  day ;  but  every  fallen  youth  you  rescue  helps 
on  the  golden  perio'd ;  every  tempted  and  endangered  one 
that  you  fortify  and  save  is  bringing  it  still  nearer.  Every 
lie  you  expose,  every  cheat  that  you  prevent,  every  item  of 
rascality  you  discourage  and  forestall  is  something  done  for 
the  rule  of  righteousness  and  for  the  coming  of  the  brighter 
day. 

Who  can  help  feeling  that  this  city  is  worth  saving? 
Who  would  not  like  to  see  Peoria  the  thriving  mart  of  trade, 
the  center  of  boundless  manufacturing,  the  place  of  beau- 
tiful residences,  the  city  of  rare  intellectual  taste  and  culture, 


(19) 

the  most  delightful  liome  of  the  great  interior  IState,  and 
the  safest,  most  honest,  most  moral  and  principled  city  any- 
where to  be  found?  Then  let  us  try  and  make  it  such.  What 
a  destiny  awaits  us,  if  we  can  make  the  world  feel  that 
Peoria  can  be  trusted !  What  a  future  we  have  before  us 
if  God  our  maker  can  be  duly  exalted  here,  and  His  law  be 
written  on  our  hearts  and  carried  out  in  our  lives  ?  Let  the 
hope  inspire  us.  And  let  the  high  aspiration  cheer  us  on  to 
noble  endeavors,  to  act  well  our  individual  part  in  promo- 
ting such  glad  consummation. 


Improved  Corn  Starch 


IS  THE 


PERFECTION  OF  DELICIOUS  AND  NUTRITIOUS  FOOD, 


AND  AT  THE  SAME  TIME 


THE  MOST  ECONOMICAL  ARTICLE  OF  DIET  KNOWN. 

Peoria  Satin  Glaze  Starch 

Is  equal  in  quality  to  the  most  favored  brands,  and  from  20  to  30  per  cent,  purer, 

and  therefore  stronger  than  the  cheap,  common  starches 

which  are  now  crowded  on  the  markets. 

Manufactured  by 

THE  PEORIA  STARCH  COMPANY, 


wmimmMm§,  lti« 


G.    ^V.    H.    GILBERT, 

FASHIONABLE 

Hatter  and  Furrier, 

AND  DEALER  IN 

Gloves  and  Mittens,  Umbrellas  and   Canes, 
BUFFALO    ROBES, 

No.  117  South- Adams  Street,  ir^IliCJri.1  A-,    11   *l   t, 

N.  B. — I  make  and  repair  everything  in  the  line,  and  whether  I  have  heretofore  had  the  pleasiire 
of  your  i)atronage  or  not,  I  would  respectfully  solicit  it. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

252ST47F  C001 

THE  FUTURE  OF  PEORIA  PEORIA 


3  0112  025275683 


